Igniter Port Retention System

Abstract

A combustor igniter port assembly is disclosed. The assembly may be installed in a combustor section of a gas turbine engine. The combustor igniter port assembly may include a combustor tower positionable to project radially outward from a combustor outer wall forming a radially outer surface of the combustor section. The combustor tower may be positionable on the combustor outer wall to encircle an aperture included in the combustor wall. The combustor tower may include a keeper on an inner wall of the combustor tower. The assembly may include a ferrule disposed radially outward from at least a portion of the combustor tower. The assembly may include a retention ring disposed within the keeper of the combustor tower. The retention ring may have elasticity to vary the diameter of the retention ring.

1 . A combustor igniter port assembly for a combustor section of a gas turbine engine, the combustor igniter port assembly comprising:
 a combustor tower positionable to project radially outward from a combustor outer wall forming a radially outer surface of the combustor section, the combustor tower positionable on the combustor outer wall to encircle an aperture included in the combustor wall, the combustor tower including a keeper on an inner wall of the combustor tower and a horizontal flange, the horizontal flange axially spaced from the keeper;   a ferrule disposed radially outward from at least a portion of the combustor tower, the ferrule including a flange; and   a retention ring disposed within the keeper of the combustor tower, the flange of the ferrule disposed radially outward of at least a portion of the combustor tower and radially inward of the retention ring, the flange of the ferrule disposed between the horizontal flange and the retention ring, a gap disposed between the retention ring and the flange of the ferrule to allow axial movement of the ferrule,   wherein the retention ring has elasticity to vary a diameter of the retention ring.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ferrule is sized to receive an igniter disposed at least partially in the combustor igniter port assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the igniter extends longitudinally through the ferrule. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the combustor tower includes a vertical wall, the horizontal flange radially outward from the vertical wall, and a vertical flange radially outward from the horizontal flange. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the keeper is a recessed groove. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein a cavity is formed by the retention ring, the vertical flange, and the horizontal flange. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the ferrule is disposed within the cavity. 
     
     
         8 . A method of installing a combustor igniter port retention ring, the method including:
 installing a combustor igniter port assembly, the combustor igniter port assembly including
 a combustor tower positionable to projecting radially outward from a combustor outer wall, the combustor tower positionable on the combustor outer wall to encircle an aperture included in the combustor wall, the combustor tower including a keeper on an inner wall of the combustor tower and a horizontal flange, the horizontal flange axially spaced from the keeper, and 
 a ferrule disposed radially outward from at least a portion of the combustor tower, the ferrule including a flange, 
   compressing the combustor igniter port retention ring to a diameter smaller than a diameter of an inner wall of the combustor tower;   inserting the compressed combustor igniter port retention ring in to the keeper of the combustor tower where the flange of the ferrule is disposed radially outward of at least a portion of the combustor tower and radially inward of the retention ring;   releasing the compressed combustor igniter port retention ring; and   expanding the combustor igniter port retention ring to fit into the keeper of the combustor tower, the flange of the ferrule disposed between the horizontal flange and the combustor igniter port retention ring, a gap disposed between the combustor igniter port retention ring and the flange of the ferrule to allow axial movement of the ferrule.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the keeper is a recessed groove in a wall of the combustor tower. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the combustor tower includes a vertical wall, the horizontal flange radially outward from the vertical wall, and a vertical flange radially outward from the horizontal flange. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising compressing the combustor igniter port retention ring and removing the combustor igniter port retention ring from the combustor tower. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the combustor igniter port retention ring is a snap ring. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the combustor igniter port retention ring is a spiral lock type ring. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the combustor igniter port retention ring is horseshoe shaped. 
     
     
         15 . A combustor igniter port assembly comprising:
 a combustor tower projecting radially outward from a combustor outer wall of a combustor section of a gas turbine engine, the combustor outer wall forming a radially outer surface of the combustor section and the combustor tower positioned on the combustor outer wall to encircle an aperture included in the combustor wall, the combustor tower including a keeper on an inner wall of the combustor tower and a horizontal flange, the horizontal flange axially spaced from the keeper;   a ferrule disposed radially outward from at least a portion of the combustor tower, the ferrule including a flange; and   a retention ring disposed within the keeper of the combustor tower, the flange of the ferrule disposed radially outward of at least a portion of the combustor tower and radially inward of the retention ring, the flange of the ferrule disposed between the horizontal flange and the retention ring, a gap disposed between at least one of the retention ring and the flange of the ferrule or the flange of the ferrule and the horizontal flange to allow axial movement of the ferrule,   wherein the retention ring has elasticity to vary a diameter of the retention ring.   
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the ferrule comprises a wear coating. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein a pressure outside of the combustor section radially outward of the combustor outer wall is greater than a pressure inside of the combustor section radially inward of the combustor outer wall. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the combustor section is disposed within a gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the retention ring is a snap ring. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the retention ring is a spiral lock ring.